“Over the years, we’ve learned at an enormous cost that many organisations, including our own – the political class, the church – many organisations that there was too much deference to, over time. And the charity sector’s no more. We cannot assume that because it’s charitable that it’s holier than thou and that it’s good. There are many organisations that I have many concerns about and I want to mention one on the record here which is Family and Life. And I’ve the letters that they’ve sent out to, what I think, are a very targeted audience, primarily elderly, vulnerable people, soliciting donations up to, and including, €7,000, in the name of charity. I think it deserves a more strong light to shone in on that particular organisation. But there are many, numerous organisations and I think we have to encourage, we have to be brave and we have to continue on our quest to shine that light.”

West Cork Fine Gael TD, Jim Daly [top] speaking in the Dáil last night about Family and Life.

Earlier this month, Stephen O’Brien of The Sunday Times reported how Family and Life has refused to register with the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) even though it was warned it was breaking the law by paying for a ‘fact finding’ mission to America for Fine Gael TDs Fidelma Healy Eames and Paul Bradford.

There has been a 40% drop in donations to charity in the two weeks since the scandal of top-ups to executives’ salaries was revealed.
Anne Hannify, CEO of Fundraising Ireland, said it was a “crisis situation” for the sector at this time of year, and the story is having a knock-on effect on other causes.
“We are really frustrated that this one incident can have such a massive impact,” she said.

In relation to Irish charities are being affected by the CRC revelaltions. Is it possible to compile a list of ‘good charities’ in Ireland where public and state donations are used in the way they were intended? Simply what are the best-run charities in Ireland?